Juneau, Alaska

The sophisticated and vibrant city of Juneau is the only state capital in the nation not accessible by road. It is exceptionally picturesque, hard against the Gastineau Channel, with steep, narrow roads clawing up into the rainforested hills behind. Gold features heavily in its history. In 1880, Joe Juneau made Alaska's first gold strike along the banks of the Gastineau Channel. Until the last mine was shut down in 1944, this was the world's largest producer of low-grade ore – all the flat land in Juneau, stretching from downtown to the airport, is landfill from mine tailings. Today, state government provides much of the employment, and tourism plays its part with the drive-to Mendenhall Glacier and the watery charms of Tracy Arm fjord as temptation.